Tangsudo

Tangsudo (탕수도/唐手道, the English transcription: tang soo C , the pronunciation: tangsoudo ), “the Way of the Hand of China”, is a traditional Korean martial art. It is concentrated on the discipline and the practice of forms and the orders of self-defense. Hwang Ki, the founder of this art, affirmed that it had created it of old texts of subak (a older Korean martial art) while it lived in Mandchourie the decade of 1930. Japanese karate and the Chinese internal approaches can have influenced Tangsudo. In much of aspects, Tangsudo is similar to the Karaté and the Taekwondo, except a very small accent on sporting events.

History of the tangsudo

The name “Tangsudo” means “the Way of the Hand of China”. In the Korean peninsula, several schools of martial arts had been prohibited by the Japanese invader during 35 years, and they left the secrecy at the end of Second War of World. They were known like the schools of Tangsudo. In modern Korea, the first school of Tangsudo was Cheongdo-gwan, founded in 1944 by WEON Kuk-Lee. Following the release of the Korean nation, which occurred on August 15th, 1945, four other schools were open: Mudeok-gwan, Songmu-gwan, Chido-gwan and Changmu-gwan. The other schools (“gwan”) were added to the list after the end of the civil war between North and the South (1950-1953). In December 1955, with the approval of president de République of South Korea, RHEE Singman, a meeting of the founders of the principal schools was convened. The intention of this meeting was to unify the various schools, to give him a name and a form to a national martial art. The name should have any relation neither with China, nor with Japan (" Tangsu" =" Hand of Chine" and its pronunciation okinawaïenne is " karate").

Parmi all the names suggested, there was “Taekwondo”, proposed by a General named CHOI Hong Hee (CHOE Hong-Hi). In 1961, the “Korean Association of Taesudo” is created. Mudeok-gwan of HWANG Ki and Ido-gwan of BYONG Yeon-Koe remained anchored in the tradition. The new organization dismembered the technical heritage of the Tangsudo old man in 1962. The sporting combat with the use of jumps, kicks and punches formed Taesudo briefly. In addition, techniques of “Naegong” (internal work, chin.: neikung), which relates to the control of breathing, energy (Ki) and the mental concentration, became not very perceptible. In 1964 the organization changed its name again into “Korean Association of Taekwondo”. It is this name which will be definitively adopté.

En 1966, “the International federation of Taekwondo” (ITF) was born. Its intention was to extend the discipline lately born with the rest of the world. Its founder is Korean general CHOI. In 1971, Taekwondo becomes the national sport of South Korea by the order in Council of President PARK Chung Hee (BAK Cheong-Hi). In 1973, “the World Federation of Taekwondo” (WTF) was born, chaired by Dr. KIM Un-Yong, in opposition with the ITF. The ITF, after several episodes of continual changes, will obtain the support of the North Korea. During this time, the WTF of KIM reaches the Olympic Games: in Seoul, in 1988, in Barcelona in 1992. Taekwondo becomes official an Olympique sport and either an martial art. The schools, which were faithful to Tangsudo was to choose to emigrate, by settling outside Korea, in America, in Europe, in Africa Méridionale, etc, to maintain unchanged the message of Wise old of the East.

Large Master SHIN Jae-Chul was student of this art and it brought it to the United States. Previously, Taekwondo had really become popular. SHIN J. a.c. begun the first school of Tangsudo with Burlington, New Jersey. In 1984 it established World Tang Soo Do Association, in order to equalize the popularity of Taekwondo. It is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Large Master PAK Ho-Shik is an eighth daN and president of Hwa Rang World Tang Soo Do Federation in the Park of Canoga, California. He published several methods of drive of Tangsudo, including vidéos, books and a CD-ROM. Its book " Tang Soo Do Manual supplements (the Handbook of Tangsudo Complet) " fact authority and covers all the techniques of the White Belt with the sixth daN.

Techniques of combat in the tangsudo

Postures

There are many postures in the tangsudo. Some of them are basic, for example " the posture of préparation" ; the others require more one balance, like " the posture on a pied" or " the posture of the grue".

Basic techniques

The basic techniques are simple and effective. The students learn all the basic techniques (blockings, punches, the kicks) which one can find in the classic art of Tangsudo. In the dojang (the Place of the Way, schools of Tangsudo), " the art" is underlined, not only the combat. The techniques of hand imply, inter alia, a variety of techniques of the fist and " hand-couteau" (Sonnal, Sudo). Each one of them has a precise form and an application, and they are used in blocking and attack. Tangsudo is an martial art which stresses the techniques of legs and the flexibility. They are also used to block and attack.

The drive in Tangsudo

In the traditional method, the student must first of all learn the bases (Gibon), then practical the combat on a step (Hanbon Gyeoreugi) and fights it on three steps (Sambon Gyeoreugi). The combat of a step teaches like concentrating, but the combat of three steps teaches to him like moving ahead and behind, like how to use the distance. Together, they give the confidence which the student needs to block and attack successfully in free combat.

The mental drive

The Masters stress the importance of the Principles and the Creed of Tangsudo, the students learn the discipline and the respect. The self-confidence, the concentration and control are also underlined, because they are the important aspects of the daily life.

Practice of fundamental ( kibon )

The students practice the basic techniques with displacement practically with each course. This helps to include/understand the dynamics of a movement and this refines the technique by the repetition. The foundations teach the student good balance and the good posture.

The forms ( Hyeong )

The forms are the predetermined sequences of the basic techniques. The forms in Tangsudo are derived from several styles of martial arts. Indeed, the majority of them are the versions of Kata of Karaté. They show the application of all the basic techniques in a variety of situations. The executant of the form thinks defending oneself against several adversaries. The Hyeong are the regulated models of techniques which the students practice on all the levels. The training of the forms increases the comprehension and the memorizing of the techniques. The forms work basic techniques and they teach the strategy, the tactics, synchronization and balance. If Tangsudo is treated like “art for art's sake”, the forms learn easily and resemble a type of dance in the presentation. As the student progresses in the capacity, the Hyeong became more complicated and become a challenge. The forms are part of the drive of Tangsudo which a student can practice easily almost everywhere.

The combat ( Daeryeon )

The combat of drive gives the opportunity to freely use all the techniques against one or some adversaries. The self-checking is important. The correct moment, the suitable position and methods to be made passage through defenses of an adversary are also practiced. Although the helmets are stuffed, the gloves and the boots are available. The rule to avoid the contact is complied with.

The combat of a step ( Hanbon-Daeryeon )

This exercise consists in applying the techniques in the form of self-defense against a known attack in a controlled way. The objective is the development of answers conditioned to a certain situation. They make it possible to learn the correct distance and the synchronization, which are the two crucial factors in a real combat. This gives also insurance and control. This is a manner of practicing very controlled, sure, and without contact.

The free combat ( Jayu-Daeryeon )

The free combat makes it possible to practice the techniques against others under controlled conditions. The objective is to defend oneself in an unknown situation. Safety is underlined during all this time. According to the traditional approach, the student does not need to strike a heavy bag to increase the capacity of his blows and to prepare with the free combat because the students practice control, without contact. The students stop their blows very near in front of their goal. Thus, so in a real combat they decide to strike the target, they can do it easily.

According to the traditional theory, if the student makes the contact constantly, it will be difficult to control its techniques when it needs some. But if it always practices control, it can easily choose to strike when it needs some. If the student constantement makes the contact during the free combat, its spirit will become wild. But if the student practices the controlled combat, its spirit will become more controlled. The two state of minds can be diffused in its daily life. Because the full contact is prohibited, the students do not have the need for using resistant stuffed protections. The use of the boxing gloves and thick protections of foot invite to strongly strike. And when they strike while carrying this kind of protections, they do not feel if their technique is correct. To avoid this problem, the traditional Masters must choose light protections with the fists and on the top of the feet. They are sufficient to prevent the wound when the contact arrives accidentally.

According to the modern approach, the free combat resembles the combat of Kick-boxing. The students use the boxing gloves, protections of the feet and protections of the head.

If the free combat is directed towards the competition or the street battle, the student must endeavor to improve his endurance. This is why the student must have good foundations and good qualifications of combat on a step and three steps; they develop the endurance of the student. It will not arrive immediately; that generally takes two or three months to build the endurance. The important thing, it is an adequate breathing. The student must breathe at right time when it strikes and blocks. If it retains its breathing when it makes a technique, it can still make the technique but it will become gradually tired as time passes. Finally it will lose its capacity to continue. In addition, each time it inspires and expires correctly, it prolongs the time during which it can fight.

The drive of self-defense ( Hoshinsul )

This activity teaches with a student how to defend oneself against seizures, catches and keys. It contains also a teaching on how to treat situations where it is necessary to be defended without causing permanent damage with the attacker and the use of points of pressure. The Jayu-daeryeon is perfect to improve the capacity of self-defense. The student can combine all the techniques: kicks, punches, blows with the foot, and inversions.

The breaking of the boards ( Kyeokpa )

The breaking of the boards is the activity preferred of many students and the spectators. Breakage proves the technical level of the students and assistance to be included/understood which effect their techniques can have on a target. It is used during the tests of rank and safety is underlined constantly. This activity teaches to concentrate, focus the spirit and to aim correctly. This helps also the students to pass the mental barriers and improves their confidence.

Resources

Trochet, Serge Mudo: Korean martial arts

See too

Soo Bahk C

Bonds

Academy Italian of Tangsudo
Korean martial arts and Taekwondo history of Korean martial arts

Simple: Tangsudo

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